Benelli TRK 502 vs 502X: The Differences

Benelli’s new ADV lineup caters to both tourers and adventurers with two variants

Benelli started its second innings in India with a bang by launching the TRK 502 range in the country. It includes both the TRK 502 and the TRK 502X. You might be wondering what the differences between the two variants are, and this article is all about that:

Design:

Both the bikes get properly full-sized ADV design language with a hint of the Ducati Multistrada, particularly at the front. The fuel tank, at 20 litres for both the bikes, is also generously large, and there’s a USB charger as well. The instrument cluster is a pretty old-school-looking analogue-digital combo unit. 

While overall, both the bikes are visually identical, the main difference lies in how the exhaust is routed. The TRK 502 comes with a stubby underslung exhaust which is great for keeping the mass centralised but not so good when it comes to water-wading requirements. So, Benelli has given the TRK 502X a conventionally routed upswept exhaust which lets the rider ride without the worry of water entering the end can.

Dimensions:

The TRK 502 gets a fairly accessible seat height of 800mm. To give you a better perspective, this seat height is as tall as the Royal Enfield Himalayan’s. On the other hand, the TRK 502X gets a taller 840mm seating position. It is as tall as the Triumph Tiger 800 XCx’s seat. For better off-road performance, the X variant also gets 30mm more ground clearance than the standard variant, at 220mm. Consequently, the height (1480mm) of this variant has also gone up by 30mm. 

Also Read: Benelli TRK 502 Vs Kawasaki Versys-X 300 Vs BMW G 310 GS: Spec Comparison

Interestingly, the kerb weight for both the bikes is the same, at 235kg. To be honest, it’s quite heavy for its category considering the fact that a bigger bike like the Kawasaki Versys 650 weighs a whole 19kg (kerb) lighter than this one!

Underpinnings:

This is where there are quite some differences between the two bikes. Though they both employ 50mm inverted front forks and a rear monoshock, the X variant’s monoshock gets 5mm more suspension stroke (50mm in total) than the standard variant. While the brand has not revealed exact numbers, it’s pretty evident that the increased suspension stroke should result in higher wheel travel. Up front, though, the two bikes get the same 145mm stroke. But thanks to a larger front wheel on the X, the USDs will act differently. 

Another major change is the wheel assembly. The TRK 502 rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels at both ends, wrapped with road-biased Pirelli Angel GT tyres. Up front, the tyre measures 120/70 while the one at the rear is a 160/60 unit.  Being an off-road-biased ADV, the 502X rides on a larger 19-inch front and a smaller 17-incher at the rear. They are shod with Metzeler Tourance dual-purpose tyres (110/80 up front and 150/70 at the rear).

Though the two motorcycles feature a 320mm dual disc setup up front and a 260mm disc at the rear, the TRK 502 comes with radial calipers at the front. This facilitates superior initial bite compared to the sliding calipers in the 502X. This setup is quite apt as in the 502X you need a more progressive braking character while riding on trails. Moreover, the X model also gets petal discs for better heat dissipation.

Pricing & other details:

The TRK 502 is priced at Rs 5 lakh whereas the TRK 502X will set you back by Rs 5.4 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom pan-India, and are introductory. The prices are applicable only for customers who have booked the motorcycle online. Speaking of bookings, they have commenced for a token amount of Rs 10,000. As an added bonus, Benelli is offering a 10,000-rupee gift voucher for customers who’ve booked the bike. They can redeem the voucher for official accessories and/or apparel.

The TRK 502 twins don’t really have any natural competitors. However, they serve as an ideal stepping stone between the relatively smaller Kawasaki Versys-X 300 and larger middleweights like the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT.